Real-time co-optimization in Jan spike would have saved ERCOT money

Platts

Real-time co-optimization of energy and ancillary services would have saved the Electric Reliability Council of Texas $58.5 million when a ramping capacity shortage on January 23 caused real-time prices to hit $9,000/MWh, board members learned Tuesday.

During Tuesday’s ERCOT Board of Directors meeting, Beth Garza, who heads Potomac Economics’ independent market monitor office at ERCOT, said her colleague Steve Reedy had composed a software program to model real-time prices during the January 23 event, in …

Texas PUC directs staff to draft order approving Oncor-Sempra deal

Platts

The Public Utility Commission of Texas on Thursday directed its staff to draft an order approving Sempra Energy’s purchase of Oncor Electric Delivery, majority owner of Texas’ largest transmission system, in a deal valued at almost $16.5 billion.

DeAnn Walker, who chairs the PUC, directed Stephen Journeay, the commission’s director of commission advising and docket management, to delegate to a staffer the preparation of an …